Closed The Water's Edge

[Ariann]

Spring 11 513AV

The water was cold as usual, the night air brisk and pushing against Ariann's cheeks as she sat atop her coral home, looking out to the shore where a coral, sand and seaweed bridge connected her house with the shoreline. It was dark with a few hours prior to midnight and Ariann could already tell her vision was receeding with the light as the sun continued to sink. The strange green lichen that had been grown along the sides of the coral bridge began to glow when the orange rays of the sun disappeared behind the mountains to the far east, casting a green glow onto the beach and the water.

The city lies to the east... She thought to herself, folding her legs up against her chest which was wrapped in a seaweed binding to cover herself decently. Her feet had the same green seaweed wrapped around them. Her hips kept a kelp skirt about them, giving her all the decency of a human without the annoying land-life of them. She had a few fish-fins sticking out of her arms and legs, a total of four that she puts to use when swimming. Her hair, which appeared to be made of blue-ish teal dreads, were actually more fins, extensions of her cranial skin. These strange follicles were bound together with a strap of seaweed as well, the seven different lengs each giving off a different color in the light of the lichen. I wonder what I will find there...

Her house wasn't really camouflaged at all, the phosphorescent lichen making it hard for her to hide the coral house that sat twenty five feet off from the shore. The coral on top of the water was a virulent pink, while the coral below the water was a navy blue, which made it appear as if the house floated on the water's surface. The house was a mere twenty feet by twenty feet in dimension and two stories tall, the bottom level completely filled with water while the top level had been sealed with a sand-mixed mortar. Only a single door faced the beach settled at the far end of the coral dock-like bridge, the only other part of the house with an opening being a small 1' wide window that faced the sea on the second level.

Anyone could have easily found the place as they were stumbling through the forests or along the beach...

[Erekez]

It had been one difficult day. Starting with a mugging that lead to an unintentional kill, proceeding into a day of avoiding being caught for it. Being put to death wasn't an appealing thought, especially when it was a kill in self-defence. There was only one problem: Dead man tells no tales. To much annoyance, using the 'He started it' excuse didn't seem like it was going to be good enough. Not when you're found leaning over a corpse with a bloody dagger in your hand. That was a pretty compromising position to be in for anyone. It was a relief to be outside the walls of Zeltiva for the time being, and even more so to be able to enjoy the sunset and unwind. The trot of Moonraker's hooves against the sand was muffled as it shifted and compressed underneath each step. Erekez had decided that, if they had found out it was him and they managed to find where he was, he needed a quick getaway. Having Moon captured would've made that very difficult, so he had gone back to retrieve her before coming down to this beach. Moon stopped moving as he dismounted. It still hurt to put strain on his arm as the wound had still not had time to heal, though the bleeding had stopped for now. The dressing would need to be changed soon, but Erekez had his doubts about doing it with so much sand around. The last thing he needed was any of it getting into the cut and slowing the healing down. No, it was better to wait until he had set up his tent for the night, which had been hastily been thrown into Moonraker's saddlebag. The salt air brushed against his skin as the scent of the sea filled his nostrils. The breeze seemed to take all his troubles with it. The gentle lapping of the waves against the shore was rhythmic, soothing. Nature's healing wasn't only found in herbs. There were many things that helped both physical and mental injuries. Some only had to be experienced, rather than eaten or rubbed on. The light scattering off the peaks of the waves only furthered his relaxation. The reds, oranges and yellows mixed with the greens, blues and purples of the sea. The sight was what Erekez waited for every night in Zeltiva. Looking out at the bay around this time. Out here, there was no noise from workers or citizens. No brick or timber. Just the mountains in the distance, the rustling of the leaves on the trees behind him, the sounds and smells of the sea dressed in the colours of the sun. Nature was full of awe-inspiring things. Plenty were still mysteries. Like that. An arrangement of pink coral? Was that always there? The structure didn't look to be a natural formation. It looked to be formed with a purpose. More coral reached from the structure towards the beach, covered by green lichen. There's a door. There was a door on the side of it, which meant the coral reaching from it was a bridge. This was incredible. Looking up, there was something more on top that didn't match with the pink of the coral beneath it. Erekez couldn't tell what it was from where he stood. Grabbing hold of Moon's reins, he began leading her towards the structure. It would be interesting to take a closer look at this. Erekez smiled.

[Ariann]

Ariann faced the general direction that led to the city, sitting down with her knees pressed against her chest. She had a distant look on her face as she reached a hand out and began to make wave-like motions. If one were to pay attention to the push and pull of the hand, they would also notice the water reacting in the same way. The water at the base of the house began to ebb and flow, raising up and forming a ball of water in the air, which then slowly began to raise above the house to catch the sparkling light of the moon.

But the spectacle only lasted for a little while, the bubble of water beginning to waver before the bottom broke and the entire blotch of water fell upon the Charoda's head. Ariann looked confused when she was drenched with the water. She was rather talented with coral manipulation, but the Reimancy she used was still as fragile as her own emotions.

"Drat" She said to herself, standing up and shaking herself dry before diving off the house and into the water below. Her form glimmered under the water, a whitish shade of blue as she streaked towards the bridge, leaping out of the water with the help of her Reimancy and landing before the door before shaking herself free of water again. "Buurrrr... cool and refreshing." She said with a smile to herself, followed by a light giggle. She did not notice the man or horse upon the beach, though. She had been facing away from the two on the roof of her house and now had her back to them as she looked at her door, frowning slightly. The door was made of coral, rather than wood, but still had a wooden frame with metal hinges. "Blue." She said with a smile and a nod as she touched the coral surface of the door, the pink and fleshy coral beginning to shift a bit as the pigments changed from that startling pink to a cool, comprised blue of the ocean. She smiled and nodded at her work, not even noticing the portion of the door that remained pink.

[Erekez]

When the 'something' on top of the structure stood up and jumped into the water, it became certain that it was a person that had been there. What was unexpected was the extensions off the persons arms and legs, almost like fins. The colour of their skin was only further evidence that this individual wasn't human, but another race. From the bubble of water that burst over their head a few moments ago, this person must be a Reimancer. Erekez didn't know how proficient, but it was already apparent they were capable of water reimancy. And they were on a beach as well, right next to the ocean. Great. Walking closer to the coral still, the person jumped out from the water with professional grace, landing in front of the door. Erekez watched as they shook the water from their body. They seemed to be wearing some sort of clothing made from seaweed and other sea plants. The style of the clothing, if it was anything to go by, said that this person was female. And Erekez had been right about the fins, they were exactly that. He skin was a blue-green that matched the shades of the docks on a cloudless day, reflecting the sky and mixing it with the greens of the vegetation it washed up. You're staring again. And then her door was blue. Any and all curiosity had been peaked now. This woman in front of him had a unique colour to her skin, had fins like a fish, and she had just changed the colour of her door with a single touch. Was that more magic? The closest Erekez could think of to have such capabilities was morphing, but didn't that only work for people? Or did it extend to anything living? He'd done enough staring. "That is an amazing ability," Erekez started, "But I think you have missed a bit." He managed a warm smile as he motioned towards the little patch of pink on her door. His smile wasn't entirely forced. This woman was very interesting, but she knew reimancy and that made her dangerous as well. Although he didn't like introducing himself ready to grab his weapon, Erekez wasn't about to let his curiosity drop his guard.

[Ariann]

The sudden voice that did not belong to Ariann startled the sea-borne woman, causing her to let out a small yelp of surprise and spin around, her seaweed skirt spinning around as she did and flaring out before coming to rest again. Emerald eyes, wide with surprise, fear and curiosity, looked onto the newcomer.

"Wh... what?" She stammered slightly, slinking back against the door, her skin glistening with the moisture of the sea, her skin a teal-blue in the green afterlight of the phosphorescent lichen on the bridge. It's a... land dweller... She thought to herself, blinking shyly and trying to stay as far away from the man as possible. She had heard tales of the creatures of the land, how all they wish from the sea is to eat those that inhabit it. The thought made her eyes widen in fright. She brought her hands up to cover her head as she began to cower, the sharp edges of the fins looking like knives upon her arms. "Please don't eat me!" She cried in fright, bending over into a half-fetal position on the bridge, trying to make herself as small as physically possible, her cheeks turning bright red out of embarrassment over having to cower. She normally would have just swam away, but the sight of a land-dweller so close caught her off-guard and her legs wound not move when she wanted them.

He's going to eat me... She thought fearfully, the water around her beginning to tremble as if it followed her emotions rather than her skills. It heaved and lowered, twisted and turned as if someone had put a large batter mixer in the water on either side of the bridge and turned it on high.

[Erekez]

There were plenty of reactions that could've happened when starting a conversation with a stranger. Fear was not one that Erekez had considered as he watched this one sink in on herself, his smile fading. Her exclamation confused him, but gave him a reason for why she feared him. Now, if he could only find out why she had these preconceived ideas that he was going to eat her. "I'd never intended on doing so." He wasn't sure if she was going to believe him or not, but it was better to speak than remain silent. "I only commented on your ability." Erekez remained where he stood on the beach. If she was this afraid of him from across the coral bridge, it wasn't a good idea to then approach her. It was possible that it would only agitate her more. After that, she'd either run, or become hostile. The way the waters around her moved with such force didn't make him think much of his chances against her. Ability to control water, as well as adapted to swim with incredible efficiency in it. They were odds stacked heavily against him. Staying on this side of the bridge, and not agitating this woman, was more of a benefit for Erekez as much as relief for her. Hopefully. Time to try for some answers. "Why would I eat you?" Erekez called from over the bridge. Asking why she was afraid was useless. it had already been answered when she shouted at him. If he could learn the reasons why, perhaps he'd be able to reassure her that he wasn't what she thought he was. Erekez was assuming she wasn't human, and he was aware of perceptions that other races had on humans. Not all of them were far from the truth, but maybe he could help remove the ones that definitely weren't.

[Ariann]

He hadn't acted hostily when she cowered, which was good. Maybe he was full? "The land dwellers eat fish! Please don't eat me! I'm not a fish!" She cried out, fear and terror still lacing her words. Her emerald-colored eyes were squeezed shut tightly, tears beginning to roll down her face. He's gonna eat me... She thought to herself, leaning back against the door and trying to make herself smaller, but couldn't crouch any further down. "Please... don't eat me..." She whimpers softly, her voice trembling. Her fear of humans was nothing when it came to her fear of canines. She had even once peed herself because of a dog barking at her from the shore. It was embarrassing.

[Erekez]

There wasn't really anything that he could say to that. It was true that most races did eat fish. Though she seemed to be under the impression that everything that lived in the water was consider a fish by 'land-dwellers', and therefore food. Erekez watched as she crouched further down, shielding her head with her arms. She was working herself into such a state over this. Moonraker was becoming impatient, nudging him in the back every chance she got. Clearly she had already grown bored of this spectacle and wanted to move on. Or was she pushing him on? Wanting him to solve this? He wasn't a miracle worker, and Moon was becoming a distraction. "Enough," Erekez said as he turned to Moon, "Go and do your own thing for now. I'll call you back when you're needed. Deal?" Moon seemed happy enough as she left, trotting down the beach to no doubt find something to eat. With any luck she wouldn't try drinking the seawater again. He turned back to the woman cowering in front of him. Erekez lowered himself to sitting on the beach. Perhaps he wouldn't look as intimidating if he didn't look as though he was ready to attack at any point. Making himself as small as she was might help with that. "I'm not going to eat you," he tried to reassure her again. Neither did he consider her a potential threat any more. She was genuinely afraid of him. This display didn't look faked or deceitful at all. Either that, or she was a very good actor, but it didn't seem like that was the case. "And I can see you're not a fish. You don't look like one, and you're talking to me. Most land-dwellers wouldn't consider you food. I do have two questions, if you don't mind. What race are you, and why are you so close to a city if you think every land-dweller is going to eat you?" That swirling water either side of the bridge was getting a little unnerving now.

[Ariann]

The churning water began to slow its feverous pitch a bit when he sat down, and then stopped altogether when he spoke to her and asked the questions. Slowly, Ariann lowered her hands and opened her eyes to look at the man. He's... sitting? She thought to herself, her eyes widening. He wants to know what I am... so he can choose the best way to eat me! She thought frantically, eyes widening as she stared at the man.

"I'm a Charoda... don't eat me! I'm not tasty, I'm all rubbery and yucky!" She attempts to dissuade him. I hope he's not like one of those four-legged beasts! I don't want to become a chew toy! She thought to herself, eyes widening more. There was a set of gills on the side of her neck, just above her collar bone, that flared slightly when she breathed in the air. Her bottom lip quivered in fear and the edges of her green eyes were beginning to get red from the saltiness of her tears. She was a fresh-water fish, after all.

"I'm sorry if I built my house in your water! I'll leave, I promise! Just don't eat me!" That appeared to be her answer for the second question. Whatever tales she had been told as a child must have been frightening ones that have scarred her all the way into adulthood... or was she still a kid? She had lithe proportions, but an acutely busty chest for a fish. She could have easily been both adult and child for all Erekez knew.

[Erekez]

He was at a loss now. Erekez couldn't think of anything further to say. Everything he had tried or asked lead back to a plea of not being eaten. He didn't think poorly of her for not trusting him, in fact, it was a trait he admired. Trusting too easily had potential to be dangerous. He only questioned her methods as he watched her staring at him. Not trusting strangers instantly would probably keep you alive, but cowering in front of them, unmoving, counteracted that. But still, Charoda? That word sounded familiar. Had he heard it somewhere on his travels, read it in a book? Erekez couldn't remember, neither did he now anything about the race beyond the example this Charoda woman was setting. And that wasn't the best example at the moment to go by. It wasn't anything that could help calm her down. Raising his hands in defeat, Erekez sighed. It was like trying to get your point across to a child who just wasn't listening. "I am not going to eat you. These are not my waters, I don't think they belong to anyone. I will offer some advice though, if you plan on staying here, you are likely to run into other land-dwellers. I can't say what the next one you meet will be like. Be careful. I'm sorry to have frightened you so much. Take care of yourself." This level of fear wasn't healthy for anyone. He was only making it worse for the Chadora by staying close to her. Offering a smile, Erekez tried to get to his feet. It was difficult without putting pressure on his one arm. If it had started to close, he didn't want to reopen it again. He could feel the sand sticking to the fabric of his clothes. He was careful when brushing it off. "Feel free to say hi if you happen to see me again whilst you stay here." Now where is that horse?